Expandable and Convertible Hand Trucks
A hand truck comprising: (1) a hand truck frame; (2) a nose plate that is disposed adjacent a lower end of the hand truck frame; (3) a plurality of primary wheels disposed adjacent the nose plate; (4) at least one secondary wheel that is disposed adjacent an upper end of the hand truck frame; and (5) an extension mechanism that is adapted to allow a user to selectively adjust the distance between the plurality of primary wheels and the at least one secondary wheel.
Latest Patents:
- Memory device comprising heater of different heat conducting materials and programming method thereof
- Resistance random access memory device and method for manufacturing same
- Non-volatile memory device with filament confinement
- Electronic device including proton conductive layer and resistance change channel layer capable of receiving hydrogen
- Housing for electric and electronic components
This application claims the benefit of both U.S. design patent application 29/381,258, filed on Dec. 16, 2010 and entitled “Hand Truck”, and U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/424,421, entitled “Expandable and Convertible Hand Trucks,” filed Dec. 17, 2010, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUNDHand trucks are commonly used to move items that are too heavy or bulky to be moved manually. Hand trucks are advantageous because they can be used to move items in an upright position, which helps to maneuver the items in and through narrow spaces. They also allow users to transport items without manually lifting the full weight of the items.
One disadvantage associated with conventional hand trucks is that they aren't typically suitable for carrying multiple items that can't be safely or effectively stacked. Conventional hand trucks also require the user to maintain a heightened level of concentration as they move items from place to place because the user must continuously balance the hand truck's frame and load over its wheels while moving the items. Accordingly, there is a need for improved hand trucks that may, for example, address such issues.
SUMMARYA hand truck, comprising: (1) a hand truck frame, (2) a nose plate disposed adjacent a lower end of the hand truck frame, (3) a primary wheel assembly comprising at least one primary wheel disposed adjacent the nose plate, and (4) a secondary wheel assembly comprising at least one secondary wheel disposed adjacent an upper end of the hand truck frame. In particular embodiments, the hand truck is adapted to be selectively moved between: (1) a hand truck orientation in which: (a) the at least one primary wheel is positioned in contact with the support surface that is supporting the hand truck; (b) the secondary wheel assembly is spaced apart from the support surface; and (c) the hand truck is oriented to use the primary wheel assembly, but not the secondary wheel assembly to roll over the support surface; and (2) a cart orientation in which: (a) the at least one primary wheel is positioned in contact with the support surface; (b) the at least one secondary wheel is positioned in contact with the support surface; and (c) the hand truck is oriented to use both the primary wheel assembly and the secondary wheel assembly to roll over the support surface. In certain embodiments, the hand truck includes an extension mechanism for allowing a user to use the extension mechanism to selectively adjust a distance between the primary wheel assembly and the secondary wheel assembly.
A hand truck, comprising: (1) a hand truck frame, (2) a nose plate disposed adjacent a lower end of the hand truck frame, (3) a plurality of primary wheels disposed adjacent the nose plate, (4) at least one secondary wheel disposed adjacent an upper end of the hand truck frame, and (5) an extension mechanism. In particular embodiments, the extension mechanism is adapted to allow a user to selectively adjust a distance between the plurality of primary wheels and the at least one secondary wheel.
A hand truck, comprising: (1) a frame including a first frame member and a second frame member spaced laterally apart from the first frame member; (2) a nose plate disposed adjacent a lower end of the frame; (3) a plurality of primary wheels disposed adjacent the nose plate; (4) at least one secondary wheel disposed adjacent an upper end of the frame; and (5) an extension assembly. In particular embodiments, the extension assembly comprises: (1) a first elongated extension member slidably mounted with the first frame member; (2) a second elongated extension member slidably mounted with the second frame member; (3) a connecting member that connects a portion of the first extension member to a portion of the second extension member; and (4) a handle comprising a grip portion that is slidably mounted with the extension assembly. In certain embodiments, the extension assembly is adapted to slide between: (1) a first position in which the plurality of primary wheels are spaced apart a first distance from the at least one secondary wheel, and (2) a second, extended position in which the plurality of primary wheels are spaced apart from the at least one secondary wheel by a second distance that is greater than the first distance. In particular embodiments, the handle is configured to selectively slide between: (1) a first position in which the grip portion is spaced a first distance from the nose plate, and (2) a second, extended position in which the grip portion is spaced a second distance from the nose plate that is greater than the first distance.
Having thus described various embodiments of the invention in general terms, reference will be now be made to the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, and wherein:
Various embodiments of the disclosed subject matter will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which various embodiments of the disclosed subject matter are shown. The claimed technology may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the technology to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout.
Expandable Hand TruckAn expandable hand truck 100 according to a particular embodiment is shown in
Hand Truck Base Portion
In particular embodiments, the hand truck base portion 101 may comprise: (1) a frame 110; (2) a nose plate 120; and (3) a primary wheel assembly 130. These components are discussed in greater detail below.
1. Frame
The hand truck base portion 101 may include any suitable type of frame. In the embodiment shown in
The various components of the frame 110 may be made of any suitable (preferably sturdy) material (e.g., a suitable metal such as steel or aluminum, or plastic). In various embodiments, these components are secured together using any suitable fastening technique to provide a rigid frame for the hand truck.
2. Nose Plate
The hand truck base portion 101 may include any suitable type of nose plate 120. As shown in
3. Primary Wheel Assembly
In particular embodiments, the hand truck's primary wheel assembly 130 is adapted for facilitating the movement of the hand truck 100 relative to a support surface that is supporting the hand truck 100. In the embodiment shown in
The primary wheel assembly 130 may further include an elongated hand truck axle 135 (see
Extendable Frame Assembly
In particular embodiments, the extendable frame assembly 140 is adapted for facilitating the selective conversion of the hand truck 100 between: (1) an unextended configuration and (2) an extended configuration. In the embodiment of
1. Right Extendable Frame Member
As shown in
As shown in
2. Left Extendable Frame Member
As shown in
As shown in
3. Connecting Member
In particular embodiments, the extendable frame assembly 140 comprises a connecting member that, in various embodiments, provides a rigid connection between the upper ends of the right and left extendable frame members 141, 145. In the embodiment shown in
Secondary Wheel Assembly
In particular embodiments, the expandable hand truck 100 may further comprise a secondary wheel assembly 150. As may be understood from
In various embodiments, the secondary wheel assembly 150 comprises at least one wheel that is rotatably attached adjacent the extendable frame assembly 140. For example, in the embodiment shown in
As may be understood from
In various embodiments, the secondary wheel assembly 150 further includes a substantially planar (e.g., rigid) right connector 152 that extends between the right extendable frame member 141 and the right lateral side of the central support 156. Similarly, the secondary wheel assembly 150 also includes a substantially planar (e.g., rigid) left connector 154 that extends between the left extendable frame member 145 and the left lateral side of the central support 156.
In particular embodiments, such as the embodiment of
In the embodiment of
As shown in
As shown in
Upper Cart Handle
The hand truck 100 may include any suitable type of upper cart handle 180. As shown in
The right handle portion 182 may comprise a substantially straight, elongated tube having, for example, a substantially circular (e.g., circular) profile. In alternative embodiments, the right handle portion 182 may have any other suitable profile (e.g., a square, rectangular, or oval profile). As shown in
In particular embodiments, the right extendable frame member 141 is adapted to fit and slide within the right frame member 112. As may be understood from
In various embodiments, the left handle portion 184 may comprise a substantially straight, elongated tube having, for example, a substantially circular (e.g., circular) profile. In alternative embodiments, the left handle portion 184 may have any other suitable profile (e.g., a square, rectangular, or oval profile). As shown in
In particular embodiments, the left extendable frame member 145 is adapted to fit and slide within the left frame member 114. As may be understood from
As shown in
As shown in
An alternative embodiment of the hand truck is shown in
Hand Truck Base Portion
In particular embodiments, the hand truck base portion 201 may comprise: (1) a frame 210; (2) a nose plate 220; and (3) a primary wheel assembly 230. These various components are discussed in greater detail below.
1. Frame
The hand truck base portion 201 may include any suitable type of frame. In the embodiment shown in
The various components of the frame 210 may be made of any suitable (preferably sturdy) material (e.g., a suitable metal such as steel or aluminum, or plastic). In various embodiments, these components are secured together using any suitable fastening technique to provide a rigid frame for the hand truck.
2. Nose Plate
The hand truck base portion 201 may include any suitable type of nose plate 220. As shown in
3. Primary Wheel Assembly
In particular embodiments, the hand truck's primary wheel assembly 230 is adapted for facilitating the movement of the hand truck 200 relative to a support surface that is supporting the hand truck 200. In the embodiment shown in
The primary wheel assembly 230 may further include an elongated hand truck axle 235 (See
Extendable Frame Assembly
In particular embodiments, the extendable frame assembly 240 is adapted for facilitating the selective conversion of the hand truck 200 between: (1) an unextended configuration and (2) an extended configuration. In the embodiment of
1. Right Extendable Frame Member
As shown in
As shown in
2. Left Extendable Frame Member
As shown in
As shown in
3. Connecting Member
In particular embodiments, the extendable frame assembly 240 comprises a connecting member that, in various embodiments, provides a rigid connection between the upper ends of the right and left extendable frame members 241, 245. In the embodiment shown in
Secondary Wheel Assembly
In particular embodiments, the expandable hand truck 200 comprises a secondary wheel assembly 250. In the embodiment shown in
In various embodiments, the secondary wheel assembly 250 comprises at least one wheel that is rotatably attached adjacent the extendable frame assembly 240. In the embodiment shown in
As may be understood from
In particular embodiments, such as the embodiments of
In the embodiment of
In various embodiments, the left and right handle supports 278, 279 may include suitable locking mechanisms for maintaining the ends of the hand truck's handle 280 in a substantially fixed position relative to the hand truck's handle supports 278, 279. One suitable locking mechanism may be, for example, a pin that extends through an opening in one of the hand truck's handle supports and then through a corresponding hole in a side portion of a respective end of the hand truck's handle 280. In other embodiments, the right and left handle supports 278, 279 and the hand truck's handle 280 may be dimensioned so that the frictional engagement between portions of the ends of the hand truck's handle 280 and the right and left handle supports 278, 279 is sufficient to maintain the handle 280 in the desired orientation.
As shown in
Upper Cart Handle
The hand truck 200 may include any suitable type of upper cart handle 280. As shown in
The right handle portion 282 may comprise a substantially straight, elongated tube having, for example, a substantially circular (e.g., circular) cross-sectional profile. In alternative embodiments, the right handle portion 282 may have any other suitable cross-sectional profile (e.g., a square, rectangular, or oval profile). As shown in
In particular embodiments, the right extendable frame member 241 is adapted to fit and slide within the first tube 254. In various embodiments, when the right handle portion 282 is nested within the right extendable frame member 241, and the right extendable frame member 241 is nested within the first tube 254, the right handle portion 282, the right extendable frame member 241, and the first tube 254 are maintained in a triple nested relationship with one another.
Similarly, the left handle portion 284 may comprise a substantially straight, elongated tube having, for example, a substantially circular (e.g., circular) profile. In alternative embodiments, the left handle portion 284 may have any other suitable profile (e.g., a square, rectangular, or oval profile). As shown in
In particular embodiments, the left extendable frame member 245 is adapted to fit and slide within the second tube 264. As may be understood from
In various embodiments, the upper cart handle 280 is adapted for selective extension and retraction relative to the hand truck's base portion 201.
Lower Cart Handle
As shown in
As may be understood from
The user may then selectively reposition the hand truck's extendable frame assembly 140 relative to its base portion 101 to adjust the length of the hand truck 100. This may, for example, allow the user to selectively move the hand truck 100 between a first configuration and a second, extended configuration. As noted above, the extendable frame assembly 140 may be selectively locked in an extended or unextended configuration with any suitable locking mechanism (e.g., a pin).
In various embodiments, similar techniques may also be used to selectively move the hand truck 100 between unextended and extended configurations while the hand truck 100 is in the upright, vertical operating arrangement.
CONCLUSIONMany modifications and other embodiments will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which this invention pertains having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. For example, as will be understood by one skilled in the relevant field in light of this disclosure, the invention may take form in a variety of different mechanical and operational configurations. Therefore, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed and that modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended exemplary concepts. Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for the purposes of limitation.
Claims
1. A hand truck comprising:
- a hand truck frame;
- a nose plate disposed adjacent a lower end of the hand truck frame;
- a primary wheel assembly comprising at least one primary wheel, the primary wheel assembly being disposed adjacent the nose plate; and
- a secondary wheel assembly comprising at least one secondary wheel, the secondary wheel assembly being disposed adjacent an upper end of the hand truck frame, wherein: the hand truck is adapted to be selectively moved between: (A) a hand truck orientation in which: the at least one primary wheel is positioned in contact with a support surface that is supporting the hand truck; the secondary wheel assembly is spaced apart from the support surface; and the hand truck is orientated to use the primary wheel assembly, but not the secondary wheel assembly, to roll over the support surface; and (B) a cart orientation in which: the at least one primary wheel is positioned in contact with a support surface that is supporting the hand truck; the at least one secondary wheel is positioned in contact with the support surface; and the hand truck is orientated to use both the primary wheel assembly and the secondary wheel assembly to roll over the support surface; and the hand truck includes an extension mechanism for allowing a user to use the extension mechanism to selectively adjust a distance between the primary wheel assembly and the secondary wheel assembly.
2. The hand truck of claim 1, wherein:
- when the hand truck is in the hand truck orientation, the hand truck frame is in a substantially vertical orientation; and
- when the hand truck is in the cart orientation, the hand truck frame is in a substantially horizontal orientation.
3. The hand truck of claim 1, wherein the extension mechanism is adapted to allow a user to:
- selectively adjust the distance between the primary wheel assembly and the secondary wheel assembly when the hand truck is in the hand truck orientation; and
- selectively adjust the distance between the primary wheel assembly and the secondary wheel assembly when the hand truck is in the cart orientation.
4. The hand truck of claim 1, wherein:
- the upper cart handle comprises a grip portion; and
- the upper cart handle is mounted to slide between: (A) a first position, in which the grip portion is spaced a first distance from the nose plate; and (B) a second, extended position, in which the grip portion is spaced a second distance from the nose plate, the second distance being greater than the first distance.
5. The hand truck of claim 4, wherein:
- at least a particular portion of the upper cart handle is slideably mounted, in a nested relationship, with a particular portion of the extension mechanism.
6. The hand truck of claim 5, wherein the particular portion of the extension mechanism is substantially tubular.
7. The hand truck of claim 5, wherein the portion of the upper cart handle and the particular portion of the extension mechanism are connected in a telescoping relationship.
8. The hand truck of claim 5, wherein:
- the particular portion of the extension mechanism is slideably mounted, in a nested relationship, with at least a portion of the hand truck frame.
9. The hand truck of claim 8, wherein:
- the portion of the upper cart handle, the particular portion of the extension mechanism, and the portion of the hand truck frame are connected in a telescoping relationship.
10. The hand truck of claim 1, wherein:
- the extension mechanism is adapted to slide between: a first position in which the secondary wheel assembly is spaced apart from the primary wheel assembly by a first distance, and a second, extended position in which the secondary wheel assembly is spaced apart from the primary wheel assembly by a second distance, the second distance being greater than the first distance;
- the extension mechanism comprises a first elongated extension member and a second elongated extension member that is spaced laterally apart from the first extension member; and
- the hand truck comprises a connecting member that connects a portion of the first extension member to a portion of the second extension member so that, as the extension mechanism slides from the first position into the second, extended position, the first and second extension members slide in tandem relative to the hand truck frame.
11. The hand truck of claim 10, wherein the connecting member comprises the secondary wheel assembly.
12. The hand truck of claim 10, wherein:
- the first extension member is mounted in a telescoping relationship with a first portion of the hand truck frame; and
- the second extension member is mounted in a telescoping relationship with a second portion of the hand truck frame.
13. The hand truck of claim 12, wherein:
- the first extension member, the second extension member, the first portion of the hand truck frame, and the second portion of the hand truck frame are substantially tubular.
14. The hand truck of claim 1, wherein:
- the handle comprises a grip;
- the handle is adapted to be selectively moved between: a first position in which the handle is positioned to allow a user, who is standing in an upright position, to operate the hand truck when the hand truck is in the hand truck orientation; and a second position in which the handle is positioned to allow a user, who is standing in an upright position, to operate the hand truck when the hand truck is in the cart orientation.
15. The hand truck of claim 14, wherein when the handle is in the first position, the handle is mounted to slide relative to the hand truck frame.
16. The hand truck of claim 15, wherein, when the handle is in the second position, the handle is attached to the secondary wheel assembly.
17. The hand truck of claim 1, further including:
- a lower cart handle disposed adjacent the lower end of the frame, the handle configured to rotate between: a first position in which the lower cart handle is substantially parallel to the frame; and a second position in which the lower cart handle is substantially parallel to the nose plate.
18. A hand truck comprising:
- a hand truck frame;
- a nose plate disposed adjacent a lower end of the frame;
- a plurality of primary wheels disposed adjacent the nose plate;
- at least one secondary wheel disposed adjacent an upper end of the hand truck frame; and
- an extension mechanism that is adapted to allow a user to selectively adjust a distance between the plurality of primary wheels and the at least one secondary wheel.
19. The hand truck of claim 18, wherein the at least one secondary wheel comprises a plurality of secondary wheels.
20. The hand truck of claim 18, wherein the extension mechanism is adapted to:
- selectively adjust the distance between the plurality of primary wheels and the at least one secondary wheel when the hand truck is in a substantially vertical, hand truck orientation; and
- selectively adjust the distance between the plurality of primary wheels and the at least one secondary wheel when the hand truck is in a substantially horizontal, cart orientation.
21. A hand truck comprising:
- a frame including a first frame member, and a second frame member spaced laterally apart from the first frame member;
- a nose plate disposed adjacent a lower end of the frame;
- a plurality of primary wheels disposed adjacent the nose plate;
- at least one secondary wheel disposed adjacent an upper end of the frame;
- an extension assembly, comprising: a first elongated extension member slidably mounted with the first frame member, and a second elongated extension member slidably mounted with the second frame member; wherein the extension assembly is adapted to slide between: a first position in which the plurality of primary wheels are spaced apart from the at least one secondary wheel, and a second, extended position in which the plurality of primary wheels are spaced apart from the at least one secondary wheel by a second distance, the second distance being greater than the first distance;
- a connecting member that connects a portion of the first extension member to a portion of the second extension member; and
- a handle comprising a grip portion, the handle slidably mounted with the extension assembly, wherein the handle is configured to selectively slide between: a first position in which the grip portion is spaced a first distance from the nose plate; and a second, extended position, in which the grip portion is spaced a second distance from the nose plate, the second distance being greater than the first distance.
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 16, 2011
Publication Date: Jun 21, 2012
Applicant:
Inventors: Paul Ryan (Wichita, KS), Robert A. Wood (Lincoln, NE)
Application Number: 13/328,938
International Classification: B62B 3/02 (20060101);